A system for validating an identity document, the system comprising:
- a terminal for scanning the identity document;
- an identity verification server for determining whether the identity document is valid by executing software executable instructions relating to a process comprising the steps of:
- scanning the identity document with an imaging device to produce at least one scanned image;
- locating a document identifier (ID) on the identity document using the imaging device;
- locating, using a verification server, an identity number in a jurisdiction identity database maintained by an authority who issued the identity document;
- determining with the verification server whether at least one or more predetermined portions of a plurality of portions of the scanned image match a corresponding synthesized digital representation of the identity document as originally issued in the jurisdiction identity information database;
- and
- outputting to a client device associated with at least one of a user and an enterprise seeking to validate the identity of an individual presenting the identity document an indication of whether or not the identity document is valid based on the determination;
- wherein
- the one or more predetermined portions of the scanned image of the identity document represent at least one of the scanned image as a whole and parts of the scanned image;
- and
- the verification server does not perform any other request for the authority who issued the identity document other than a verification request relating to the document ID for which the verification server receives a record containing data relating to the identity document for verifying the identity document as the verification server is configured such that the verification server does not retrieve original content relating to the identity document from the authority who issued the identity document;
- wherein
- scanning the identity document with an image document to produce at least one scanned image comprises:
- illuminating the identity document under visible illumination and capturing a first image of the identity document within a predetermined wavelength range within a band selected from a group comprising an ultraviolet band, a visible band and an infrared band;
- illuminating the identity document under at least one of ultraviolet illumination and infrared illumination and capturing a second image of the identity document within a predetermined wavelength range within a band selected from the group comprising an ultraviolet band, a visible band and an infrared band;
- and
- determining with the verification server whether one or more predetermined portions of the scanned image match a corresponding synthesized digital representation comprises:
- determining a first match with a first subset of a plurality of portions of the first image acquired with a first synthesized digital representation of the identity document as originally issued representing an image as would have been imaged under visible illumination;
- determining a second match with a first subset of a plurality of portions of the second image acquired with a second synthesized digital representation of the identity document as originally issued representing an image as would have been imaged under at least one of ultraviolet illumination and infrared illumination within the
- predetermined wavelength range within the band selected from the group comprising an ultraviolet band, a visible band and an infrared band;
- and
- determining the match in dependence upon the first match and the second match.